Clinical Pharmacist

Clinical Pharmacist

The Clinical Pharmacist is to perform the full range of accepted ethical and professional practices of pharmacy, observing all legal requirements. Clinical pharmacist duties are also performed in complex tertiary care teaching medical center.

• Provides consultation to physicians and other healthcare professionals on basic information about drug therapy.
• Intervenes appropriately to increase effectiveness and minimize potential risks of inappropriate drug therapy.
• Evaluates patient or caregiver's ability to understand medication instructions and provides verbal and written counseling on his/her drug therapy and adjusts communication methods based on age and developmental considerations.
• Performs chart reviews patient encounters, physician and nurse encounters for the following: drug usage evaluation, clinical effectiveness, drug selection, dosing, contraindications, side effects, potential drug interactions, and therapeutic outcomes as required or other assigned clinical projects.
• Interpret laboratory values and applies knowledge in the evaluation of drug therapy and patient care. Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed.
• Communicates findings with prescribers and provides appropriate alternatives to current treatment plans as needed. Resolves problem and potential problem situations involving medication therapy verbally and/or in writing within the needed time frames.
• Monitors for and reports drug errors, adverse drug reactions, allergies, and patient compliance issues according to established facility procedures.
• Consistently considering and accurately applying all available clinical data, drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to each medication order. Intervenes appropriately to increase effectiveness and minimize potential risks of drug therapy.
• Provides expert drug information to all customers and MEDVAMC staff that is accurate, unbiased and cost-effective while using current Drug Information resources, Medical Center Formulary, Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Guidelines and acceptable standards of practice.
• Documents drug information inquiries and responses, when appropriate, in a timely manner by signature in electronic health record (eHR).
• Performs greater than 50% of his/her time in a distributive capacity, to include evaluating physicians' orders as to appropriateness based on patient medication profiles, inputting information into VistA or verifying orders entered by healthcare providers, and dispensing medication in accordance with dosage form requirements to facilitate timeliness of discharge prescriptions, outpatient prescriptions and inpatient medication orders.
• Monitors patient's medication profiles to ensure that information is complete, correct and up to date.
• Dispense prescriptions for outpatient medication and medical supplies daily from inpatient pharmacy window, when necessary, in accordance with Medical Center and VA policies to eligible veteran patients.
• Participate in the training and orientation of pharmacy students, pharmacy staff and allied healthcare professionals.
• Maintains and improves professional competency by keeping up with information on new medications, new medication therapies, and innovations in pharmacy practices. The Pharmacist continually applies current drug information and program techniques in their daily practices
• Clinical pharmacists may be assigned topics for review and presentation at pharmacy staff meetings (new drugs or appropriate prescribing and use of old drugs or classes of drugs, etc.).

Work Schedule: 3:30pm-12:00am, with rotating weekends and holidays), subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 02128F and 02258F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact View email address on click.appcast.io, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

US Department of Veterans Affairs